Spring-actuated gun.



J. F. BURNAM.

SPRING AOTUATED GUN.

APPLICATION .EILED MAR. 10, 1914.

Patented Aug. 18,

w'i tmaooeo "Us fl SEAS ran ill @FFllCllil.

JAMES F. BURNAM, OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABANEA.

mousse.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1&3, 1914s.

Application filed March 10, 1914. Serial No. 823,783.

, Actuated Guns, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates spring operated guns, and has particular referenceto a gun of this character, which is particularly well. adapted for usein throwing or shooting dart-signs, such as are disclosed in mycopending application Serial No. 799,340, filed November 5, 1913, whilenot necessarily restricted to such use. An important object of theinvention 18 to provide a gun of the above mentioned character, andconvenient in use.

to improvements in A further olqect of the invention is to provide a gunof the above mentioned chars actor, which is simple in, construction, in

expensive to manufacture, strong, and C111- rable.

Gther objects and advantages of the in vention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gun embodying my invention,Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view through the same, Fig. 3is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional View through the fore-armof the gun and.

the rear portion of the barrel, certain elements being shown inelevation, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 1 l ofFig. 3, Fig. 5 is a central longitudinal sectional view through theplunger of the gun, and, Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of shockabsorbing means included in the invent-ion.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of '11] y invention, the numeral 10 dcsignates agun stock, provided with a forwardly extending fore-arm 11, as shown.Arranged upon the fore-arm 11 and extending longitudinally thereof andforwardly beyond the same is barrel 12, the rear end oi which isprovided with slot 13,130 receive ascrew 14k, or the like, attached tothe forearm, as more clearly illuswhich is powerful in operuti0n,'

mad in'Fig. '3. The barrel 12 is provided with :1. depending boss 15adapted to fit within'a recess 16 formed in the fore-arm.

This depending boss is provided with a screw-threaded opening forreceiving a clamping bolt 17, provided with a milled head 18, as shown.It is thus seen that simple and reliable means are provided todetachably rigidly connect the barrel with the fore-arm.

Arranged upon opposite sides of the barrel l2 areswinginglevers 19,pivoted thereon between their ends,-as shown at 20, such pivots notextending into the barrel.. The inner'ends of the levers 21 are bentdownwardly and inwardly, forming converging portions 21, which areproduced in the form of extensions 22, lying flat upon each other, andpassi into a longitudinally extending opening formed in a movableforearm extension 23 and-rigidly secured therein by means of screws 24or the like. Means Iare provided to detachably lock the forearmextension 23 with the fore-arm 11, the

; same comprising a ball 25', mounted within an opening formed inthe'fore-arm 11 and adapted to extend outwardly beyond an aperturedplate 26 secured thereto. This ball is urged outwardly by a compressiblecoil spring 27. The ball 25 is adapted to pass into a socket or recess28 formed in a plate 29, which is secured-Rte the free end of thefore-arm extension @3, asshown.

Mounted to reciprocate within the barrel 12 is a tubular plunger 30,shown more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4-. This tubular plunger has itsforward end closed by means of a head unplug 31, preferably formed ofwood and held therein by means of a transverse pin 32 or the like. Thisplunger may be cast with a solid head and the wooden head omitted,ifdesired. Rigidly connected with the tubular plunger 80 is alongitudinally extending rib 35, adapted to'oporate within alongitudinal slot 36 fonmdwhrough the barrel 12. Formed upon,the-forward end of the longitudinal rib 1s 21 preferably cupshaped head86, receiving packing 37, as

more clearly shown in'l ig. 3. This packing .is held within thecup-shaped head 36 by means of a transverse element or bolt 38,extending outwardly beyond the same. Connected with the opposite ends ofthe trans verse element or bolt 58 are retractile coil. springs 89,arranged upon opposite sides of the barrel 12 and extending forwardly aioness connection with angular portions 40 of the lovers 19, as-shown.The tubular plunger 30 and the rib 35 are pfiovided with vertical alinedtransvvse opcnii-lgs, for receiving a 'ravity operating or droppfholding pinll, provided at its upper (l with an enlarged head. 42. Theup l movement of this'holding pin is positively limited by a transversestop element 43 secured to the hiding pin and arranged within thetubular plunger 30. The lower end or the holding pin 41 is adapted toenter a relatively short slot 43, formed through the lower side oi": thebarrel 12, said lower end of the holding pin engaging the forward endwall of the slot43 and thereby temporarily preventing the forwardmovement of the tubular plunger 30, as clearly shown in Fig.

Arranged below the relatively short slot 43 is a recess 4A, within whichis mounted a vertically swinging trigger 45, pivoted as shown at 46.This trigger is provided with an upwardly extending lug or tooth 46,adapted to engage'with the lower end ofthc holding pin {i l and elevatethe same whereby the holding pin is moved entirely out of the slot 4-3.

I provide shock absorbing means to properly arrest the forward movementof the tuhular plunger. This shock absorbing means compri anapproximately til-shaped bracket l7, which is soldered or otherwise ri'idl secured to the u 3 er side of the bar- -.rel. l2 suitably near thepivots 20, as shown. The upstanding arms of this bracket are aperturedto recelve a reciprocatory rod 48,

provided at its inner end with a head 49, adapted to engage with thepacking 37 within the'cup-shapcd head 36. A suitably still compressibleand eiipansible coil spring 50 surrounds the inner portion of the rod l8and is disposed between the head 49 and the inner apcrtured arm of thebracket 47. A Second corripressible and expansible coil spring 51surrounds the forward portion of the rod e8, with its forward endengaging the forward apertured arm of the bracket 4:7

and its rear end engaging a transverse cottor-pin 52 or the like,passing through an aperture in the rod 48. This shock absorb ing meansalso serves to retain the springs 39 slightly taut,.when the gun isuncooked.

. The operation of the gun is as follows: To cook and load the gun, theoperator proferahly holds the same-in an approximately horizontalposition, and swings thofore-arrn extension 23 downwardly toward thedischarge end of the barrel. He'may then ad-- vantageougly grasp'thehead 42 of the hold ing pin 6:1 and move the tubular plunger 30rearwardly of the barrel 12 and completely out of the rear or inner endthereof. This having been done, the device which is to be thrown orfired, such as the sigibdart shown in my co-pending epplication'filedNovemvsprings 39 are ,placed under tension.

- the plunger in its'cocked posit her 5, 1913, Serial No. 799,340, isthen passed into the inner or rear end of the barrel 12. The tubularplunger 30 is returned into the inner end of the barrel 12 andmovedforwardly within the sine until the holding pin ll drops into thes. ll] 43. The fore-arm extension 23 is then. swung inwardly to hereturned to its normal position, whereby the The gun is now ready to befired, whichanay be accomplished by pulling upon the trigger l5 whichwill elevate the holding pin. ll to move the same entirely out of thesloteil. The

springs 39 will now suddenly throw or move the plunger forwardly toeject the sign-dart or the like from the barrel. When the eubw plungerhas reached the end of its forward travel the movement thereof is arrested by the shock absorbing; means, the

packing 37 within the cup-shaped head 36 535 be taken as a preferredexample of the same,

and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to witho it departing from the spirit of the inventi claims.

Having described my invcntiornl claim 1. In a. gun of the characterdescribed, a stock, a barrel connected with'the stock, a

n or the scope of the snbjcined loo lever pivotally connected with thebarrel, 1G5 an element mounted to reciprocate within the barrel, and anelastic member connecting the lever with the reciprocatory element.

2. In a gun of the character described, a stock, a barrel rigidlysecured thereto, a no lever pivotally connected with the barrel, anelement mounted to reciprocate within the barrel, a rctractile coilspring connecting the pivoted lever and the reciprocatory element, andmeans to temporarily hold the lever in one position. x Y I 3. In a gunofthe character described a stock, a barrel secured thereto and, pvidedwith a longitudinally extendiihg slot, a

plunger mounted to reciprocatewithin the barrel and providedwithnnelemcnt extending; through and beyond the; slot, a lever an rangedexteriorly of the barrel and pivot; ally connectedtherewithfja'retractile coil e one end: e lever and L'plungei, means totern porarily lock the lever in one osition, and trigger operated meansto tezfnporarily hold 4. In a gun thecharacter r o-assentheh providedwith a, fore larin, a barrel mounted u on the tore-arm and securedthereto an slot, a plunger mounted to reciprocate with providedwith;lhElOilgltllCllDRd.

in the barrel and'providedwith "an extension operating within-the slot,"29 pair of levers arranged upon oppositeisides; of the barrel andpivotally eoniiecied therewith a a stock carrying the barrel, areciprocatoryl vment toward the inner and 'outer ends 40 retractile coilsprings connected t with the outer ends of the leversiand-with' thee'xtension of the plunger, a'fore-arin extension connected withthe'inner ends'of the lovers and adapted to be moved into engagementwith the barrel adjacent the fore-arm, means to temporarily lock thefore-arm extension with the fore-arm, and means to. texhpora rily holdthe plunger against movement in one direction.

5. In a the inner end thereof, a longitudinally'elastic retractileelement connected near its inner end with the plunger, means to move theplunger toward 'theinner'end of the barrel, trigger operated means to.temporarily lock the plunger in the. inner cockedpoe sition, andseparate means associated with the barrel and having a part thereof.con-I nected with the elastic element and-movable towardthe outer end ofthe barrel, to place the elastic element under tension.

6. In a n of the character described, a barrel having its inner andouter ends open,

plunger mounted within the barrel for move thereof, means to hold theplunger in the inner cocked position, longitudinally elastic meansconnected with the plunger, andv separate means arranged near the barreland having a part thereof movable toward the outer end of the barrel,said part being con-. nected with the elastic means to place the sameunder tension.

'7. In a gun of the character described, a barrel, a stock carrying thebarrel, a reciprocatory plunger mounted within the barrel, means to holdthe plunger in the inner cocked position, a retractile elastic elementconnected with the plunger and adapted on of the character described, abarrel having its inner and-outer ends'open, a stock carrying thebarrel,-a reciprocatory plunger mounted withinthe barrel and} adaptedtobe removed therefrom through.

"when placed under tension to move the plun- .ger forwardly, andseparate means associated with thebarrel for placing the elastic elementunder tension subsequent to the holding of the plunger in the innercocked position.

.8.In a gun of the character described, a longitudinal member, anelement slidably engaging therewith to move longitudinally thereof,means to hold the element against movement in one direction, alever'pivoted ,to the'longitudinal member, a retractile coil springconnecting the lever and slidable element, and. means to hold the leveragainst movementin a desircdposition.

.9. In a 'gim of the character described, a I

stock, a; barrel secured to'the stock'and provided upon its lower side.withan o ening, a plunger mounted to reciprocate wit in the barrel andprovided with an upstanding" opening, a. reciprocatory holding pin mounted within the o enin of theplunger with itsdower end a apted to enterthe opening site end provided with an indicator has arranged exteriorlyor: the barrel, a trigger pivotally connected with the stock and havmg aportion thereof movableinto the openin the lower side of thebarrel'an'dits 0 p0 ing in the lower side of the'barrel to move V the holding pinout of the same for releasing n at" the character described ryinga'depending boss adapted to fit within the depending opening, a bindingscrew} engaging the fore-arniand operating within a screw-threaded.openingin the depending boss, and an element secured to the gun stockand adapted for insertion'within the longitudinal slot of the barrel.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES F.

Brennan.

' Witnesses:

L. A. MGGRATH, RoBnR'r GAMBLE,

